Gender Mainstreaming In Peacekeeping Operations ... - Resdal

As a composite, programs have had diverse and dynamic results
that have made women to feel safer and more secure in Liberia.
This has been achieved through advocacy and training, and in
some areas, funding at the onset of the Mission, for the setting
up of systems and protection mechanisms for seeking redress,
recruitment of women in the security sector and in UNMIL,
and increasing representation of women in formalized decision
making bodies. Through widespread and localized sensitization
campaigns and awareness raising, women were better positioned
to program around their specific needs and have requested and
received funding to implement their strategic action plans. The
introduction of gender equality as a cross-cutting issue and from
a rights-based approach has broadened gender knowledge
amongst the Liberian community, in particular, women who
are stimulated to claiming their rights in all aspects of the
developmental agenda, including key policy making processes
and access to resources. It also has enhanced appreciation for
gender inclusive processes and results in Liberia`s development
agenda.
A number of pragmatic recommendations have emerged based
on the experience of gender mainstreaming in Liberia which
might be used to guide the UN Mission and system in Liberia and
DPKO and its partners on like missions. They include:
• Rely on localized networks and community based initiatives
• Share information through sensitization campaigns composed
of localized messages
• Use resource strategically, and where a comparative
advantage is present
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